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March 25, 2021

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Merkel hit as Easter shutdown rules eased

German Chancellor Angela Merkel yesterday reversed a planned strict Easter shutdown for the country amid massive criticism of the government鈥檚 pandemic management.

Merkel and the leaders of Germany鈥檚 16 states agreed at marathon talks on Monday that almost all shops were to be closed on April 1-5, with only grocers allowed to open on April 3.

But they have now scrapped that measure, instead appealing to the public to stay at home over the Easter weekend, CDU party chief Armin Laschet told a regional parliament meeting in the state of North Rhine-Westphalia.

The leaders had agreed the measure was 鈥渁 mistake and not enforceable in this form,鈥 he said.

Merkel had called an unexpected crisis meeting yesterday as a backlash over the pandemic measures sent her CDU party鈥檚 ratings plummeting.

Der Spiegel news magazine said the chancellor had admitted the Easter shutdown was a 鈥渕istake.鈥

The toughened shutdown sparked fierce criticism, with the Bild daily calling the government鈥檚 pandemic management a 鈥渕ess.鈥

鈥淢erkel and the (state leaders) have lost sight of the real problem,鈥 it said.

Der Spiegel called the measures a 鈥渟candal,鈥 saying the government had 鈥渃ompletely the wrong priorities鈥 and should focus on improving its vaccination campaign.

Infections continue to rise in Germany, with 15,813 new cases reported in 24 hours yesterday by the Robert Koch Institute health agency.

鈥淭he situation is serious. Case numbers are rising exponentially and intensive care beds are filling up again,鈥 Merkel said after Monday鈥檚 meeting.


 

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